Exam Strategy
Situational Questions
How to answer situational questions on the PMP Exam
Stakeholders did not agree on project objectives due to cross-cultural differences. What should the project manager have done to mitigate the issue?
Question about motivating team members. Options may include giving them rewards in cash or kind,
Project manager hears about an upcoming change/risk. What should the project manager do?
- Perform a risk analysis and update the risk register.
Risk Trigger: A team member informs that a risk is about to occur (non-stop rain may flood the construction site). Flooding was identified as one of the risks on the project. What should the project manager do? Question: 3305
- Review the risk management plan
- Inform the risk owner to prepare for taking contingency actions.
- Wait for the risk to materialize and then implement the planned risk response.
- Implement the risk response plan.
- Immediately issue a stop-work order and take actions to secure the work site.
- Update the issue register and inform the stakeholders about potential schedule and budget overruns.
- Issue a change request to tap into management reserves.
Stakeholder leaves and replaced by a new one, or stakeholder delegates the responsibility to a new stakeholder. The new stakeholder is not engaged. What should the project manager do?
- Meet with the new stakeholder to explain the project goals and objectives, and understand their level of engagement.
- Send them a copy of the project management plan and the expectations.
You need to understand the stakeholders' needs and expectations from the project. Options are:
- Send a group email to them and ask them to provide their needs and expectations in the email.
- Send a individual email to all the stakeholders and ask them to provide their needs and expectations in the email.
- Meet with them face-to-face to understand their needs and expectations from the project.
When dealing with stakeholders, always choose an option that involves face-to-face or one-on-one communication.
The work on a construction project was on track when a major accident occurred on the site. What should the project manager do first?
- Ensure the safety of the people on the site.
- Update the risk register.
- Implement the risk response plan.
- Constitute a committee to investigate the root cause.